CHIEFS ANNOUNCE 2017 SYRACUSE BASEBALL WALL OF FAME CLASS

The Syracuse Chiefs are pleased to announce this year's Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame class - play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough, CBA baseball coach Tom Dotterer, former Chiefs player/manager and LeMoyne coach Frank Calo and current Chiefs catcher Jhonatan Solano, who will become the first active member of the Wall of Fame. These four men will be inducted into the Wall of Fame during a pregame ceremony on Sunday, July 30th, before the Chiefs play the Gwinnett Braves at 1:05 p.m. McDonough, Dotterer and Solano will be in attendance for this year's Wall of Fame ceremonies, while Calo will be represented by his family, including his son Frank.

"We're so excited to induct this outstanding class", said Chiefs general manager Jason Smorol. "Inducting Jhonatan Solano as an active player is unprecedented, and we are happy to reward him for his many years as a standout player and person for the Chiefs. Our rich history of greatness in the radio booth is an ongoing theme, and having Sean McDonough be so on board with this induction is a testament to his love of Syracuse. Finally, getting to recognize local legends in our community like Tom Dotterer and Frank Calo is what makes the Syracuse Wall of Fame Day such a special occasion."
Sean McDonough was the Voice of the Chiefs from 1982-84. His baseball resume includes broadcasting games for the Boston Red Sox from 1988 through 2004. and his work with CBS from 1990 through 1999, where he became the youngest national broadcaster in World Series history at age 30 in 1992. McDonough, who joined ESPN/ABC in 2000, was named the play-by-play broadcaster for "Monday Night Football" in 2016. He is a 1984 graduate of Syracuse University.
Tom Dotterer has won more than 625 games in a decorated high-school coaching career with Christian Brothers Academy baseball, including 21 league championships, 11 sectional championships and the 1996 state championship title. The school baseball field named "Tom Dotterer Field" in his honor in 2016. Dotterer played nine years in the minor leagues, including seven games with the Chiefs in 1962. He joins his father Henry "Dutch" Dotterer and brother Henry John "Dutch" Dotterer, Jr. as Syracuse Baseball Wall of Famers.
Frank Calo was a Syracuse-born player who was one of 18 men to both manage and play for the Chiefs. He served as player-manager beginning at the end of 1956 season and continuing through 1957. Calo played 15 seasons of minor-league baseball, from 1946 through 1960. After his playing career, he served as head coach for four seasons at LeMoyne College from 1965 to 1968 and as a National League scout.
Jhonatan Solano becomes the first player inducted into the Wall of Fame while still active. He is currently in his seventh season with the Chiefs, one shy of tying Dutch Mele's franchise record for longevity, and broke Dick West's record for most games caught by a Chief earlier this year. Solano began his Syracuse career in 2009. He was named to the 2014 International League Mid-Season All-Star team, hitting career-high ten home runs while leading Syracuse to its first division title in 25 years. Solano made his Major-League debut in 2012 with Washington, hitting .314 with two home runs in 12 games, and has played in 36 total Major League games between 2012 and 2013 with the Nationals, plus seven in 2015 with the Marlins.
The first 1,000 fans on Wall of Fame Day will receive a MacArthur Stadium replica, courtesy of Loretto Health & Rehab. The day is also an NBT Bank Family Sunday, where kids can eat free and run the bases after the game. Tickets for Wall of Fame Day are on sale now and can be purchased at syracusechiefs.com, 474-7833 or in person at the NBT Bank Stadium ticket office.